Gripper mechanism for printing-machines.



E. W. COOPER.

GRIPPER MECHANISM FOR PRINTING moamss.

APILICATION FILED MAY 18. 1910.

l VENTOR.

Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

2 snare-21mm 1 E. W. COOPER. GBIPPER mncmmsm FOB. PRINTING momma.

APPLICATION IILED MAY 18, 1910.

1,015,873, Patented Jan. 30,1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIS W. COOPER, OF NEW YORK, N.,Y., ASSIGNOR TO B. HOE AND CO. OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GRIPPER MECHANISM FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 18, 1910.

Patented Jan. 30,1912.

Serial No. 561,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLIS \V. Coorrzn, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gripper Mechanism for Printing-Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in gripper operating mechanism for printing machines.

In gripper operating mechanism, as now usually constructed, the grippers are mounted on a shaft journaled in a rotating carrier or cylinder, t-he gripper shaft being provided with a grooved block known as a tumbler block which engages with pins located alongside the path of movement of the carrier, so that the grippers are opened and closed at the proper timesto take and release the sheets. This construction, while efficient for certain classes of machines, is objectionable for use in connection with sheets taking cylinders running at high speeds, for the reason that the grippers must move from a position inside the cylinder to theirsheet taking position on an are which is necessarily long, because the grippers must move over the edge of the sheet in order to come down upon and clamp it. here, as is usually the case, sheets are taken from a feed table, the grippers cannot begin their movement until after the ends of the grippers have passed beyond the edge of the sheet, which requires that this long movement must take place very quickly, especially where the cylinders are rotating at high speed. To obtain this quick movement requires shar cams and there is consequently wear and shock in operation.

In order to avoid the quick cams necessary for giving the long movement referred to and the incident shock and wear, gripper operating mechanism has been proposed in which the rippers are mounted on a shaft carried in arms extending from rock-shaft, so that the grip'pers are given a movement toward and away from the center of the cylinder on which the grippers are carried. The gripper shaft is further provided with a segment which is in mesh with another segment mounted on a short rock-shaft extending through the head of the cylinder in which the grippers are mounted, this shaft being operated by an arm and cam. In this construction, the grippers, when about to take a sheet, were intended to be rocked into position over the edge of the sheet and then drawn down into holding position. The mechanism by which it was proposed to produce the operations referred to, however, is more or less complicated and, therefore, expensive, and it was, because of the character of its actuating devices, slow in operation. For these and other reasons this construction has not gone into general use.

The object of this invention is to produce an improved gripper operating mechanism in which the path of travel given the grippers is comparatively short, and in which the operating mechanism is of such a character as to give the grippers a rapid and easy movement.

IVith'this and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements and combinations as will be hereinafter described and specifically pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cylinder provided with one form of the improved gripper mechanism, certain parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a view of the gripper construction shown in Fig. l with the parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the parts in still a different position. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view illustrating the gripper and actuating shafts employed and the operating cam therefor.

In the particular mechanism selected to illustrate the invention, 1 indicates a sheet taking cylinder mounted on a. shaft indicated at 2, the sheets being shown as delivered to the cylinder from a feed-board of the usual type, indicated at 3. Constructions embodying the invention will include a shaft on which the grippers are mounted. In the particular construction illustrated, this ripper shaft is indicated at 4, the ripper ngers 5 being secured to this sha t by means of clamps 6 of the ordinary construction. These gripper fin ers work through the usual gap in the cy inder, one edge of which 5 forms a stationary abutment for the fingers. In the particular construction illustrated, this gripper shaft 4 is mounted in arms 7 fast to an actuator shaft 8 mounted in the heads or ends of the cylinder. As shown, this actuator shaft is a rock-shaft and in order to give it its movement it is provided with av cross-arm 9 one end of this arm carrying a roll 10 which runs in a cam groove 11 in a closed cam 12 secured to the frame of the machine. It is apparent that the construction so far described would give the grippers what may be generally termed a radial movement.

Constructions embodying the invention will include means which are rendered operative by the movement of the actuator shaft whatever that movement may be, for rocking the gripper shaft. In the particular construction illustrated, the gripper shaft 4 has fast thereon a segment 13 meshing with a segment 14 formed, as shown, integrally with a hub 15 through which the actuator shaft extends. This hub and segment are, however, stationary with res ect to the head of the cylinder and the shaft 8, the hub in the construction illustrated forming a bearing in which the shaft 8 turns. This segment may be rendered immovable in any suitable way. In the construction illustrated, it is secured in position by screws 16 (see Fig. 4). To insure that the grippers remain closed after the roll 10 leaves the closed cam 11, a spring rod const-ruetion 17 of usual type may be employed, this spring rod being secured to the crossarm 9. There may also be employed a stop, as 18, which cooperates with the spring rod construction to hold the cross-arm in proper position.

Vith the construction described, and referring more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the grippers are shown as within the cylinder and are just passing the edge of the sheet resting on the table 3. It will be observed that at this time the roll 10 (see Figs. 1 and 6) will be just at the high point of the cam. As the cylinder rotates, the roll travels down from the high part of the cam, rocking the shaft 8,-so that the shaft 4 is carried downward. As this downward movement occurs, the segment 13 rolls on the teeth of the stationary segment 14, thus rocking the gripper shaft so as to throw the grippers out of the cylinder.

Fig. 3 illustrates the parts in the position they assume when the grippers are closed, and Fig. 2 represents an intermediate position of the parts between the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and that illustrated in Fig. 3. The shaft 8 may, if desired, be provided with a crank arm 19 at the end opposite that which carries the cross-arm 9, in order that a second spring rod construction, indicated at 20, may, if desired, be secured thereto.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction by which the invention is carried into effect. The invention is not, therefore, to be confined to the particular construction hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. In a gripper mechanism, the combination with a cylinder having a gripper gap and a stationery abutment, of an actuator shaft, a gripper shaft, connections between the gripper shaft and the actuator shaft, whereby the movement of the actuator shaft gives the gripper shaft a reciprocating movement, and means rendered operative by the movement of the actuator shaft for rocking the gripper shaft to cause the grip pers to clamp the sheet to the stationary abutment.

2. In a gripper mechanism, the combination with a cylinder having a gripper gap and a stationary abutment, of an actuator shaft provided with carrier arms, means for rocking the shaft, a gripper shaft mounted in the arms, and means rendered operative by the movement of the actuator shaft for rocking the gripper shaft to cause the grippers to clamp the sheet to the stationary abutment.

3. In a gripper mechanism, the combination with a cylinder having a gripper gap and a stationary abutment, of an actuator shaft, means for rocking the shaft, carrier arms on the shaft, 2. gripper shaft mounted in the arms, and gearing rendered operative by the movement of the actuator shaft for rocking the gripper shaft to cause the grippers to clamp the sheet to the stationary abutment.

4. In a gripper mechanism, the combination with a cylinder having a gripper gap and a stationary abutment, of an actuator shaft provided with carrier arms, a cam and connections whereby this shaft is rocked, a gripper shaft mounted in the carrier arms, a gear on the gripper shaft, and a stationary gear with which said gear is in mesh, whereby as the actuator shaft is rocked the gripper shaft is given a combined reciprocating and rocking movement to cause the grippers to clamp the sheet to the stationary abutment.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ELLIS W. COOPER.

Witnesses:

F. W. H. CRANE, LOUIS ROEHM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O." 

